Touch free dispensers powered by focused energy signals

Abstract

Exemplary dispensers that receive power from a wireless focused power signal and methods of charging such dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing soap or sanitizer includes a housing, a receptacle for retaining a supply of soap or sanitizer, a processor, and a focused energy signal receiver. The focused energy signal receiver includes a reflector for reflecting at least a portion of the focused energy signal back to a transmission source and a converter for converting at least a portion of the focused energy signal into an output voltage. The dispenser further includes charge control circuitry and one or more capacitors. The charge control circuitry monitors the output voltage of the converter. If the output voltage of the converter is above a threshold, the one or more capacitors receive a charging current.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electronic dispenser comprising:
 a housing; 
 a receptacle for retaining a supply of product; 
 a processor; 
 a focused energy signal receiver; 
 a reflector for reflecting at least a portion of a focused energy signal back to a transmission source; 
 a converter for converting at least a portion of the focused energy signal into an output voltage; 
 charge control circuitry; and 
 one or more energy storage devices; 
 wherein the charge control circuitry monitors the output voltage of the converter; 
 wherein if the output voltage of the converter is above a threshold, the one or more energy storage devices receive a charging current; 
 wherein the charging current is limited to maintain at least the threshold output voltage while charging the one or more energy storage devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the processor has an input that is indicative of the output voltage of the one or more energy storage devices. 
     
     
       3. The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the processor has an input that is indicative of the charge on the one or more energy storage devices. 
     
     
       4. The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the threshold voltage is set by voltage divider circuitry. 
     
     
       5. The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising back flow prevention circuitry for preventing current to flow from the one or more energy storage devices to the converter. 
     
     
       6. The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the one or more energy storage devices comprise one or more capacitors. 
     
     
       7. The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser is devoid of a battery. 
     
     
       8. The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein focused energy recover comprises a photovoltaic array. 
     
     
       9. A method of charging a plurality of soap or sanitizer dispensers comprising:
 transmitting a plurality of focused power signals into an area using a transmitter; 
 receiving, by the transmitter, one or more signals reflected back from a plurality of soap or sanitizer dispensers; 
 determining one or more charge priorities for the plurality of soap or sanitizer dispensers; and 
 charging the plurality of dispensers in a selected order as a function of the one or more charge priorities. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the one or more charge priorities are a function of the distance between the transmitter and the dispenser. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the one or more charge priorities are a function of the charge of the internal energy storage device of the dispenser. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein the one or more charge priorities are a function of the prior history of one or more dispensers. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  wherein the one or more charge priorities are a function of a location of one or more dispensers. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  wherein the one or more charge priorities are a function of the usage rate of the one or more dispensers. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9  wherein the one or more charge priorities are a function of a predefined order. 
     
     
       16. A dispenser system comprising:
 a plurality of dispensers; 
 each dispenser comprising,
 a housing; 
 a receptacle for retaining a supply of product; 
 a processor; 
 a focused energy signal receiver;
 the focused energy signal receiver having
 a reflector for reflecting at least a portion of the focused energy signal back to a transmission source; and 
 a converter for converting at least a portion of the focused energy signal into an output voltage; 
 
 
 charge control circuitry; 
 one or more energy storage devices 
 wherein the charge control circuitry monitors the output voltage of the converter; 
 wherein if the output voltage of the converter is above a threshold, the one or more storage devices receive a charging current; and 
 a motor for causing the product to be dispensed; 
 
 wherein the motor receives power from the one or more storage devices to dispense the product; and 
 a transmitter for transmitting a plurality of signals to the plurality of dispensers;
 wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit focused energy signals to at least one of the plurality of dispensers, wherein the focused energy signal is a signal that is increased in intensity by at least a portion of the signal being bounced back and forth between the transmitter and the focused energy signal receiver. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The dispenser system of  claim 16  wherein the current to charge the one or more storage devices is limited to prevent the output voltage of the converter from falling below the threshold voltage. 
     
     
       18. The dispenser system of  claim 16  wherein the dispensers are one of a soap dispenser and a sanitizer dispenser. 
     
     
       19. The dispenser system of  claim 16  wherein focused energy recover comprises a photovoltaic array. 
     
     
       20. The dispenser system of  claim 16  wherein the charge control circuitry is configured to prevent a load from being present until the focused energy signal reaches a high enough intensity to provide the threshold voltage.